Hopry Short # 3 | Brasserie d’Achouffe| Houblon Chouffe | 9% ABV
Belgian IPA / Tripel | Rating: 88/100

It should be no surprise by now that I love tripels. I also have a great love for IPAs. So this beer, Houblon Chouffe IPA Tripel by Brasserie d’Achouffe, is right up my alley. It combines these two styles into something that is only commonly seen in the Belgian IPAs. I will say that I was unpleasantly surprised, though, with the insane amount of sediment that seemed to take over after opening the bottle (and yes I handled the bottle gingerly before opening). I know this is somewhat normal for Belgian beers, but this was a bit much. Obviously it doesn’t impact the flavor, but it certainly didn’t do much for the appearance of the beer. That aside, this is a very yummy Belgian Tripel. The flavors that are commonly present in a Belgian Tripel are right at the fore, but then you are immediately hit with a nice punch of three different types of hops they use. This creates a spiciness that is not always common with hop-forward beers. Overall an enjoyable little session. Cheers!

I’ve never met a monk, but I’d sure like to one day. They really seem to be some cool cats based solely on what they like to drink. I still remember the first time I found out they were responsible for one of my favorite things in life: Chartreuse (a green herbal liquor). I was shocked that such religious folks could be responsible for something as heavenly (pun intended) as it is. Orval is a beer made by monks as well. It is the only beer they make that is sold to the public. They make use of the proceeds from the sales to support their life’s work through the monastery. They also take a portion of it to donate to their surrounding community. See! I told you these guys were cool cats. With that said, the Orval is easily one of my favorite Trappist beers. As I previously mentioned, there are elements of this beer that just sets itself apart from the other six. For one, it’s a LOT more effervescent, which makes it surprisingly similar to a Saison. And second, it’s got the most unique flavor profile with its spicy clove and citrus components. It’s also about as dry as the Arizona desert, but that’s not enough to stop my mouth from wanting more. What makes this beer the most special for me, though, is its drinkability (damn I hate saying that word). At a relatively low ABV (6.9%), these beers go down very well, and they’re also in just about every liquor store I’ve visited. That means just about anyone can go out and find one of these beers. So why don’t you go get one (or three) and pass them out to people who know very little about beer. Share the story with them and I guarantee you they will quickly become a fan of the beer. And from there…well…they’re going to hate you for exposing them to a beer that will make them forget about the everyday lager or wheat beer they are used to drinking today. You may even convert another person to the world of craft beer. In other words…nice work!

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Brewery: Brasserie dOrval
Beer: Orval
Style: Belgian Ale
Location: Villers d.-Orval, Belgium
ABV: 6.9%
Rating: 96/100